Phil first worked on secondment from the University of York to The Children's Society as part of the team who produce the 'Still Running' research report in 1999. He subsequently took up a post with us and has undertaken research on young runaways, advocacy for 'looked after' children and the experiences of children in trouble with the law. He has contributed to the development of evaluation methodologies for both internally and externally-commissioned studies of direct practice with children and young people.

Before joining The Children's Society, Phil was a researcher for a local authority social services department and prior to this had been employed in academic research. He has worked as a social worker in field and residential teams. Phil is also a qualified newspaper journalist and worked on a daily local paper.

Current research / evaluation:

National evaluation of peer mentoring in schools – under the Mentoring and Befriending Foundation’s Anti-Bullying Initiative

Evaluation of the National Mentoring Initiative (The Children's Society)

Evaluation of the Aspire Project (The Children's Society)

Evaluation of Children’s Centres family support work (The Children's Society)

Hagley-Dicksinson L & Raws P (2008) A Review of the Work of the Feltham Community Chaplaincy Trust Including the Volunteer Mentoring Scheme for Young Men Leaving Custody (Partnership with the University of Northampton)

Raws P (2008) Dudley Circles: Early evaluation and review of a new restorative justice project and its work with looked after children in residential care

Raws P Building a Future: an evaluation of the process and outcomes of services to young people in planned residential care within Durham Social Services children's homes, York: Social Work Research and Development Unit, University of York 2004